Search Results (15)

The Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) has gained significant popularity over the past decade due to its versatility. The MMC features have been leveraged in numerous fields, including high-voltage DC transmission, electric vehicle power trains, motor drives, and wind energy conversion. In controlling the MMC, the circulating current (i.e., the current flowing through both the upper and lower converter arms without delivering power to the load) has consistently been the most critical variable. In early applications, it was perceived as a source of losses, but more recently, it has become evident that injecting a specific current could reduce voltage and energy ripples. This paper presents a theoretical framework, based on time-scale analysis, useful for modeling and controlling MMCs. The new approach is adopted for generating the circulating current reference, which is expressed as a linear combination of orthogonal functions. The goals are to decouple the control of the voltages of the upper and lower converter arms and manage additional harmonic components of the circulating current for voltage ripple reduction on module capacitors. The simulations and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. Full article

The oscillations induced by voltage source converters (VSCs) in DC voltage timescale dynamics pose significant challenges to the safe and stable operation of VSC-dominated power systems. However, previous studies have conducted simplified analyses without fully understanding the fundamental roles of different timescale control loops in converter-interfaced systems. In light of this, this study first identifies the key state variables and operating points that directly characterize the energy storage levels of devices and networks in AC systems. A model for the converter-interfaced system is then established in the specified DC voltage timescale. The key contribution of this work is the proposal of an analytical framework that decomposes system stability into self-stabilizing (Self-stable) and externally coupled stabilizing (En-stable) paths based on internal voltage amplitude and frequency, aiming to reveal the physical mechanisms behind internal voltage amplitude and frequency oscillations in DC voltage timescale dynamics. Based on this framework, the Self-stable path and En-stable path of the internal voltage amplitude/frequency of converter-interfaced systems are derived. This novel analytical method mathematically decouples the stability of a single variable into a direct self-influence path and an indirect path coupled through other system variables. Subsequently, the causes of internal voltage amplitude/frequency oscillations in the specified voltage timescale are explained using the Self-stability and En-stability analysis method. A key finding of this study is that the stability of the internal voltage amplitude and frequency exhibits a dual relationship: for amplitude stability, the Self-stable path is stabilizing, whereas the coupled path is destabilizing; for frequency stability, the roles are reversed. Finally, the results are verified through simulations. Full article

In some areas, such as Gansu in China and Texas in the USA, lots of wind power bases are located far away from load centers. Transmitting large amounts of wind power to load centers through long transmission lines will lead to wind turbines being integrated into a weak grid, which decreases the stability limits of wind turbines. To solve this problem, this study investigates the stability limits of a Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) connected to a weak grid in a DC-link voltage control timescale. To start with, a model of the DFIG in a DC-link voltage control timescale is presented for stability limit analysis, which facilitates profound physical understanding. Through steady-state stability analysis based on sensitivity evaluation, it is found that the critical factor restricting the stability limit of the DFIG connected to a weak grid is ∂P_e/∂ (−i_rd), changing from positive to negative. As ∂P_e/∂ (−i_rd) reaches zero, the system reaches its stability limit. Furthermore, by considering control loop dynamics and grid strength, the stability limit of the DFIG is investigated based on eigenvalue analysis with multiple physical scenarios. The results of root locus analysis show that, when the DFIG is connected to an extremely weak grid, reducing the bandwidth of the PLL or increasing the bandwidth of the AVC with equal damping can increase the stability limit. The aforesaid theoretical analysis is verified through both time domain simulation and physical experiments. Full article

Grid-forming wind turbines (GFM-WTs) based on virtual synchronous control can support the voltage and frequency of power system by emulating the synchronous generator. The dynamic characteristics of a GFM-WT decided by virtual synchronous control, dq-axis voltage, and current control is significant for small-signal stability analysis. This paper builds a small-signal model of a GFM-WT in active power control (APC) and DC voltage control (DVC) timescale from the perspective of internal voltage. The proposed model describes how the magnitude and phase of the internal voltage are excited by the unbalanced active and reactive power when small disturbances occur. Interactions in different control loops can be identified by the reduced order model. We verify the accuracy of the proposed model in APC and DVC timescales by time domain simulations based on MATLAB/Simulink. Case studies show how the control parameters interact with each other in the two timescales. Full article

The energy storage adjustment strategy of source and load storage in a DC microgrid is very important to the economic benefits of a power grid. Therefore, a multi-timescale energy storage optimization method for direct current (DC) microgrid source-load storage based on a virtual bus voltage control is studied. It uses a virtual damping compensation strategy to control the stability of virtual bus voltage and establishes a virtual energy storage model by combining different types of distributed capability units. The design of an optimization process for upper-level daily energy storage has the objective function of maximizing the economic benefits of microgrids to cope with unplanned fluctuations in power. A real-time energy-adjustment scheme for the lower level is introduced, and a real-time energy-adjustment scheme based on virtual energy storage for the short-term partition of the source-load storage is designed to improve the reliability of microgrid operations. The experiment shows that, in response to the constant amplitude oscillation of the power grid after a sudden increase in power, this method introduces a virtual damping compensation strategy at 20 s, which can stabilize the virtual bus voltage. From 00:00 to 09:00, the battery power remains at around 4 MW, and from 12:00 to 21:00, the battery exits the discharge state. The economic benefits from applying this method are significantly higher than before. This method can effectively adjust the source-load energy storage in real time. During peak electricity price periods, the SOC value of supercapacitors is below 0.4, and during normal electricity price periods, the SOC value of supercapacitors can reach up to 1.0, which can make the state of the charge value of supercapacitors meet economic requirements. Full article

Transient stability during grid fault is experienced differently in modern power systems, especially in wind-turbine-dominated power systems. In this paper, transient behavior and stability issues of a direct drive wind turbine during fault recovery in DC-link voltage control timescale are studied. First, the motion equation model that depicts the phase and amplitude dynamics of internal voltage driven by unbalanced active and reactive power is developed to physically depict transient characteristics of the direct drive wind turbine itself. Considering transient switch control induced by active power climbing, the two-stage model is employed. Based on the motion equation model, transient behavior during fault recovery in a single machine infinite bus system is studied, and the analysis is also divided into two stages: during and after active power climbing. During active power climbing, a novel approximate analytical expression is proposed to clearly reveal the frequency dynamics of the direct drive wind turbine, which is identified as approximate monotonicity at excitation of active power climbing. After active power climbing, large-signal oscillation behavior is concerned. A novel analysis idea combining time-frequency analysis based on Hilbert transform and high order modes is employed to investigate and reveal the nonlinear oscillation, which is characterized by time-varying oscillation frequency and amplitude attenuation ratio. It is found that the nonlinear oscillation and even stability are related closely to the final point during active power climbing. With a large active power climbing rate, the nonlinear oscillation may lose stability. Simulated results based on MATLAB^® are also presented to verify the theoretical analysis. Full article

In this work is considered the connection of a photovoltaics (PV) solar plant to the main grid through a Direct Current (DC) MicroGrid and a hybrid storage system, composed of a battery and a supercapacitor, in order to satisfy constraints of grid connection (the so-called Grid-Codes). The objective, and main contribution of this paper, is to stabilize the DC MicroGrid voltage in spite of large variations in production and consumption, using a nonlinear hierarchical easy-to-implement control strategy. Here is presented the MicroGrid’s control design based on detailed models of the photovoltaic energy sources and the storage systems. Such DC grids may present an unstable behavior caused by the PV’s intermittent output power, by switching ripples from the power converters and their power electronics, and oscillatory currents produced by some types of loads. Therefore, the system is subject to both fast and slow variations, and its stabilization is based on different technologies of storage, such as battery and supercapacitor, and control algorithms designed thanks to the use of time-scale separation between different components of the storage systems. The obtained nonlinear results are stronger than current linear controllers, allowing to keep operating margins around the voltage reference. At the same time, in this work, insights from power systems practice have been used, aiming to obtain a very simple and easy-to-implement control scheme. Detailed simulation results are provided to illustrate the behavior and effectiveness of the proposed stabilization technique. Full article

The DC-link voltage control (DVC) timescale (i.e., the frequency dynamics covering converter outer controls) instabilities in wind generation have gained increased attention recently. This paper presents DVC timescale modeling and stability analysis for multi doubly-fed induction generators (DFIGs) connected to weak AC grids. A reduced-order, small-signal model of a grid-tied multi-DFIG system, designed for DVC dynamics analysis, is firstly proposed. The model allows for the dynamic interactions among the DC-link voltage control, active power control (APC), terminal voltage control (TVC) and phase-locked loop (PLL). Eigenvalue and participation factor analyses are conducted to explore the potential instabilities and correlated critical factors for such a multi-machine system. The sensitivity studies find that instability can occur at high levels of power generations or low short-circuit ratio (SCR) conditions. In addition, the dominant mode is identified to be highly related to the PLL, and its modal damping is decreased when the bandwidths of PLLs in different generators are close. Detailed model-based time domain simulations verified the analysis above. Full article

The effect of frequency variation on system stability becomes crucial when a voltage source converter (VSC) is connected to a weak grid. However, previous studies lack enough mechanism cognitions of this effect, especially on the stability issues in DC voltage control (DVC) timescale (around 100 ms). Hence, this paper presented a thorough analysis of the effect mechanism of frequency variation on the weak grid-connected VSC system stability in a DVC timescale. Firstly, based on instantaneous power theory, a novel method in which the active/reactive powers are calculated with the time-varying frequency of voltage vectors was proposed. This method could intuitively reflect the effect of frequency variation on the active/reactive powers and could also help reduce the system order to a certain extent. Then, a small-signal model was established based on the motion equation concept, to depict the effect of frequency variation on the weak grid-connected VSC system dynamics. Furthermore, an analytical method was utilized to quantify the effect of frequency variation on the system’s small-signal stability. The quantitative analysis considered the interactions between the DC voltage control, the terminal voltage control, phase-locked loop, and the power network. Finally, case studies were conducted, and simulation results supported the analytical analyses. Full article

Micro-grid has received extensive attention as an effective way to absorb new energy. Compared to large power systems, the micro-grid system consisting of power electronics is relatively weak due to the lack of support for synchronous machines. In this paper, the direct-drive wind turbine (WT) is connected to the low-inertia micro-grid as the research background. Based on the virtual inertia control of the WT, the inertia source and the physical mechanism of the WT connected to the micro-grid system are studied. The inertia characteristics of the rotor of the WT on the electromechanical time-scale, the DC side capacitor on the DC voltage time-scale, and the simulated grid under the droop control are analyzed. The research results show that under the control of the system, the inertia of the system is derived from the WT, DC capacitor, and the micro-grid simulated by droop control converter. The equivalent inertia of each link is determined by the control parameters, steady-state operating point, and structural parameters. The resulting inertia characteristics will have frequency domain characteristics under control. Finally, the correctness of the system inertia analysis conclusion is verified by simulation and experiment. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs), during a route, should normally operate at the desired speed by effectively controlling the power that flows between their batteries and the electric motor/generator. To implement this task, in this paper, the voltage source AC/DC converter is considered as a controlled power interface between the electric machine and the output of the DC storage device; the DC/DC converter is used to automatically regulate the battery operating condition in accordance to the profile of the acting on the vehicle wheels, unknown external torque. Particularly, the speed is continuously regulated by the vehicle driver via the pedal while all other regulations for absorbing or regenerating energy are internally controlled. The driver command is acting as speed reference input on a PI outer-loop motor speed controller which, in its turn, drives a fast P inner-loop current controller operating in cascaded mode. In a similar manner, the machine and the battery performance are self-regulated by a pure PI current controller that achieves maximum electric torque per ampere operation of the motor and by a PI/P cascaded scheme for the DC-voltage/battery–current regulation, respectively. In order to exclude any possibility of instabilities and adverse impacts between the different parts, a rigorous analysis is deployed on the complete electromechanical system that involves the motor, the batteries, the converter dynamic models and the proposed controllers. Modeling the system in Euler–Lagrange nonlinear form and applying sequentially suitable Lyapunov techniques and the time-scale separation principle, a systematic method for tuning the gains of the inner- and outer-loop controllers is derived. Therefore, the proposed controller design procedure guarantees asymptotic stability by considering the accurate system model as a whole. Finally, the proposed approach is validated by simulating realistic route conditions, performed under unknown external torque variations. Full article

Inertia effect and damping capacity, which are the basic characteristics of traditional power systems, are critical to grid frequency stability. However, the inertia and damping characteristics of grid-tied photovoltaic generation systems (GPVGS), which may affect the frequency stability of the grid with high proportional GPVGS, are not yet clear. Therefore, this paper takes the GPVGS based on droop control as the research object. Focusing on the DC voltage control (DVC) timescale dynamics, the mathematical model of the GPVGS is firstly established. Secondly, the electrical torque analysis method is used to analyze the influence law of inertia, damping and synchronization characteristics from the physical mechanism perspective. The research finds that the equivalent inertia, damping and synchronization coefficient of the system are determined by the control parameters, structural parameters and steady-state operating point parameters. Changing the control parameters is the simplest and most flexible way to influence the inertia, damping and synchronization ability of the system. The system inertia is influenced by the DC voltage outer loop proportional coefficient K_p and enhanced with the increase of K_p. The damping characteristic of the system is affected by the droop coefficient D_p and weakened with the increase of D_p. The synchronization effect is only controlled by DC voltage outer loop integral coefficient K_i and enhanced with the increase of K_i. In addition, the system dynamic is also affected by the structural parameters such as line impedance X, DC bus capacitance C, and steady-state operating point parameters such as the AC or DC bus voltage level of the system and steady-state operating power (power angle). Finally, the correctness of the above analysis are verified by the simulation and experimental results. Full article

In this paper, the nonlinear dynamics of a PV-fed high-voltage-gain single-switch quadratic boost converter loaded by a grid-interlinked DC-AC inverter is explored in its parameter space. The control of the input port of the converter is designed using a resistive control approach ensuring stability at the slow time-scale. However, time-domain simulations, performed on a full-order circuit-level switched model implemented in PSIM^© software, show that at relatively high irradiance levels, the system may exhibit undesired subharmonic instabilities at the fast time-scale. A model of the system is derived, and a closed-form expression is used for locating the subharmonic instability boundary in terms of parameters of different nature. The theoretical results are in remarkable agreement with the numerical simulations and experimental measurements using a laboratory prototype. The modeling method proposed and the results obtained can help in guiding the design of power conditioning converters for solar PV systems, as well as other similar structures for energy conversion systems. Full article

With high penetration of renewable energy, DC distributed power systems (DDPSs) need to improve the inertia response and damping capacity of the power grid. The effects of main circuit parameters and control factors on the inertia, damping and synchronization of the DDPS were studied in this paper. Firstly, the dynamic model of DDPSs based on frequency droop control is established in the DC voltage control (DVC) timescale. Then, a static synchronous generator (SSG) model is used to analyze the parameters that affect the inertial level, damping effect and synchronization capability of the DDPS. The analysis results show that an optimal design of the frequency droop coefficient and proportional integral (PI) parameters of the DC bus voltage control loop can equivalently change the characteristics of inertia and damping when the frequency droop control strategy is applied to the DC/DC converter and the DC bus voltage control strategy is used in the grid-tied inverter. Simulation results verify the correctness of the conclusions. This paper helps to design an effective control strategy for DDPSs to enhance the inertial level and damping effect of the power grid and to improve the stable operation capability of renewable energy systems. Full article

EVO Electric has designed, built and tested the DuoDrive hybrid system based on proprietary axial flux motor technology, and installed it in a London Taxi Cab. The DuoDrive switchable series/parallel hybrid system has demonstrated a 60% improvement in fuel economy compared to a conventional taxi when operated over an urban drive cycle. As with many hybrid vehicles, a large part of this improvement is attributed to effective and efficient recapture of braking energy. The amount of braking energy that can be recovered, and the efficiency with which it can be returned to the road will therefore have a significant impact on the overall fuel economy of the vehicle. One factor that limits the amount of energy that can be recovered is the allowable charge rate of the battery, as braking events are usually high power and in a hybrid vehicle the battery size is generally small. The vehicle described in this paper has an energy storage system comprised of high power ultra-capacitors and a high energy lithium ion battery connected through a DC/DC converter. This allows efficient, high power transfer under regenerative braking and acceleration, and similarly efficient energy storage over longer timescales. Managing the power flow through the DC/DC converter and therefore the ultra-capacitor voltage, is a key control parameter that affects the efficiency of the overall system. This paper presents the energy storage system layout and demonstrates how different DC/DC converter control strategies can affect the system energy efficiency. Full article